Could anyone explain how annual road tax is calculated in Vaud? I heard it was based on cubic capacity and CO2 emissions.

It's based on weight and power of the car and there is a calculator online:

http://www.san.vd.ch/taxes.htm

Furthermore a 50% reduction applies for certain conditions (diesel motor, low emission etc) explained over there..

Thanks baris

The 50% discount for diesel sounds good. Looks like the car I want has the required filter.

Seems like they've removed the tax calculator from the website.

I wonder, what is the magic formula used now by the SAN in Vaud?

The formula is still there on the website.

For me, it's quite pricey- car weighs 1570 kg and has a 235 kW petrol engine.
0.15 CHF per kilo, up to 2000 kg
2 CHF for each kW, up to 100 kW; plus 3 CHF/kW above that

so 235.50 (weight) + (200 + (235 x 3)) = 840.50 CHF to tax my car in VD.

Glad I live in Basel land, where tax is based on weight, based on a multiplier of that weight- around 680 CHF per year (still pricey!)